Intensive Farming

Intensive Poultry Respiratory Welfare

Respiratory disease is the leading cause of antibiotic use and welfare compromise in intensive poultry production.

Key Facts

Infectious bronchitis, Mycoplasma, and Newcastle disease affect most commercial flocks
Poor ventilation creating ammonia and particulate exposure is the primary predisposing factor
Respiratory disease causes labored breathing, reduced intake, and systemic illness
Vaccination combined with ventilation management prevents most respiratory disease outbreaks

Welfare Considerations

Poultry with respiratory disease experience breathing difficulty, reduced access to food and water, and systemic illness that compromises welfare and productivity simultaneously. Chronic subclinical respiratory disease reduces behavioral diversity and increases susceptibility to secondary infections. Prevention through comprehensive biosecurity, vaccination, and ventilation management is more welfare-positive than treatment of established disease.

What You Can Do

Support poultry welfare standards including ventilation and respiratory health monitoring
Advocate for vaccination program requirements in welfare certification
Buy certified poultry from producers with comprehensive respiratory disease prevention
Back research into poultry housing reducing respiratory disease incidence